IF there was ever a better excuse for tea and cake it’s helping to rid the world of polio.

And on March 8, you can do just that.

The Rotary Club of Colchester is to host a quintessentially English tea party at the Batte-Lay Tearoom at the Minories in High Street.

It will be one of numerous Purple4Polio tea parties simultaneously hosted by rotary clubs across the country.

The tea parties are part of a new £3 million appeal to try to rid the world of polio which has been launched by Rotarian Nigel Dyson and supported by Wilkin and Sons and the Gazette.

Ian McMeekan, of the Rotary Club of Colchester, said: “This campaign to eradicate polio has been Rotary’s major campaign since we started in 1985 and we are nearly there.

“The number of new cases last year was only 37 in three countries. We really are very close.

“We really do need to raise a lot more money and raise awareness.

“I believe there are about 12 tea parties being held around our district, covering Essex.”

The tea party at the Minories Colchester will have sittings at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

In addition to the tea parties, the Rotary Club of Colchester is arranging Purple Pinkie non-uniform days in several schools to boost funds.

The campaign has already received a huge boost thanks to Tiptree jam maker Wilkin and Sons, which also runs the Minories tea room.

It was approached by Mr Dyson, who is a member of the Kelvedon and District Rotary Club, who asked for its support in the international health campaign.

The jam maker stepped up the mark and agreed to produce 52,000 specially branded jars of plum and greengage Purple4Polio jam.

These will be distributed to Rotarians across Britain and Ireland.

Rotarians will be asked to give a donation of £2 for the jam and once the jars have been emptied, they will be asked to fill them with coins.

It is hoped this will raise in the region of £1 million which will be double match funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to total £3 million.

If enough money can be raised, it will be used to immunise all children in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria and in so doing polio will have been wiped off the face of the earth.

The jars carry a special label incorporating the colour purple and the Rotary logo.

The Rotary polio campaign dates back to 1985 and the ambitious promise Rotarians made to the mothers of the world that polio would be eradicated and their children would no longer suffer from the life threatening and crippling disease.

There needs to be three years with not a single new case anywhere, for the whole world to be declared polio free.

Tickets for the tea party in Colchester cost £10 and include unlimited tea and scones with Wilkin’s jam and cream.

There will also be a free raffle with some unusual prizes.

To reserve a seat contact Mr McMeekan on 01206 575490 or email ian.t.mcmeekan@btinternet.com.